Pakistan - One-Day Internationals Most runs

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0
Inzamam-ul-Haq	1991-2007	375	348	52	11701	137*	39.53	15769	74.20	10	83	20
Mohammad Yousuf	1998-2008	256	244	40	8978	141*	44.00	11977	74.96	15	60	15
Saeed Anwar	1989-2003	247	244	19	8823	194	39.21	10938	80.66	20	43	15
Javed Miandad	1975-1996	233	218	41	7381	119*	41.70	11014	67.01	8	50	8
Saleem Malik	1982-1999	283	256	38	7170	102	32.88	9383	76.41	5	47	19
Ijaz Ahmed	1986-2000	250	232	29	6564	139*	32.33	8174	80.30	10	37	14
Rameez Raja	1985-1997	198	197	15	5841	119*	32.09	9226	63.31	9	31	15
Shahid Afridi	1996-2008	255	240	15	5419	109	24.08	4872	111.22	4	29	20
Aamer Sohail	1990-2000	156	155	5	4780	134	31.86	7297	65.50	5	31	10
Younis Khan	2000-2008	169	164	18	4683	144	32.07	6199	75.54	3	32	15
Abdul Razzaq	1996-2007	227	195	49	4416	112	30.24	5492	80.40	2	22	12
Shoaib Malik	1999-2008	162	144	18	4353	143	34.54	5531	78.70	5	28	9
Wasim Akram	1984-2003	356	280	55	3717	86	16.52	4208	88.33	0	6	28
Imran Khan	1974-1992	175	151	40	3709	102*	33.41	5105	72.65	1	19	6
Moin Khan	1990-2004	219	183	41	3266	72*	23.00	4017	81.30	0	12	17
Mudassar Nazar	1977-1989	122	115	10	2653	95	25.26	5130	51.71	0	16	6
Zaheer Abbas	1974-1985	62	60	6	2572	123	47.62	3033	84.80	7	13	2
Yasir Hameed	2003-2007	56	56	1	2028	127*	36.87	3029	66.95	3	12	2
Salman Butt	2004-2008	51	51	1	1898	136	37.96	2453	77.37	6	8	6
Mohsin Khan	1977-1986	75	75	5	1877	117*	26.81	3373	55.64	2	8	3
Imran Nazir	1999-2007	74	74	2	1784	160	24.77	2224	80.21	2	9	10
Rashid Latif	1992-2003	166	117	29	1709	79	19.42	2237	76.39	0	3	8
Kamran Akmal	2002-2008	87	73	10	1606	124	25.49	1914	83.90	4	2	5
Saleem Elahi	1995-2004	48	47	4	1579	135	36.72	2214	71.31	4	9	3
Azhar Mahmood	1996-2007	143	110	26	1521	67	18.10	1988	76.50	0	3	9
Shoaib Mohammad	1984-1993	63	58	6	1269	126*	24.40	2492	50.92	1	8	8
Basit Ali	1993-1996	50	43	6	1265	127*	34.18	1669	75.79	1	9	3
Asif Mujtaba	1986-1996	66	55	14	1068	113*	26.04	1671	63.91	1	6	8
Imran Farhat	2001-2006	33	33	1	974	107	30.43	1379	70.63	1	6	2
Waqar Younis	1989-2003	262	139	45	969	37	10.30	1445	67.05	0	0	15
Mohammad Hafeez	2003-2007	48	48	1	874	92	18.59	1503	58.15	0	4	6
Misbah-ul-Haq	2002-2008	34	30	5	873	55*	34.92	1044	83.62	0	3	1
Majid Khan	1973-1982	23	22	1	786	109	37.42	1052	74.71	1	7	1
Wasim Raja	1973-1985	54	45	10	782	60	22.34	1168	66.95	0	2	6
Saleem Yousuf	1982-1990	86	62	19	768	62	17.86	1024	75.00	0	4	5
Manzoor Elahi	1984-1995	54	46	13	741	50*	22.45	827	89.60	0	1	1
Saqlain Mushtaq	1995-2003	169	98	38	711	37*	11.85	1434	49.58	0	0	13
Qasim Umar	1983-1987	31	31	3	642	69	22.92	1125	57.06	0	4	3
Abdul Qadir	1983-1993	104	68	26	641	41*	15.26	849	75.50	0	0	6
Mansoor Akhtar	1980-1990	41	35	1	593	47	17.44	1148	51.65	0	0	1
Aamer Malik	1988-1994	24	23	1	556	90	25.27	989	56.21	0	5	1
Mohammad Wasim	1996-2000	25	25	2	543	76	23.60	1043	52.06	0	3	4
Taufeeq Umar	2001-2005	19	19	1	447	81*	24.83	778	57.45	0	3	0
Mushtaq Ahmed	1989-2003	144	76	34	399	34*	9.50	698	57.16	0	0	10
Sadiq Mohammad	1973-1980	19	19	1	383	74	21.27	755	50.72	0	2	0
Naved-ul-Hasan	2003-2007	62	41	14	359	29	13.29	481	74.63	0	0	3
Wajahatullah Wasti	1999-2000	15	15	0	349	84	23.26	713	48.94	0	1	1
Zahid Fazal	1990-1994	19	18	3	348	98*	23.20	584	59.58	0	2	0
Asif Iqbal	1973-1979	10	8	2	330	62	55.00	466	70.81	0	5	0

Pakistan - One-Day Internationals High scores

Player	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR		Opposition	Ground	Match Date	Scorecard
Saeed Anwar	194	146	22	5	132.87		v India	Chennai	21 May 1997	ODI # 1209
Imran Nazir	160	121	14	8	132.23		v Zimbabwe	Kingston	21 Mar 2007	ODI # 2547
Younis Khan	144	122	8	3	118.03		v Hong Kong	Colombo (SSC)	18 Jul 2004	ODI # 2147
Shoaib Malik	143	127	18	1	112.59		v India	Colombo (RPS)	25 Jul 2004	ODI # 2152
Yousuf Youhana	141*	147	13	3	95.91		v Zimbabwe	Bulawayo	23 Nov 2002	ODI # 1899
Saeed Anwar	140	132	14	2	106.06		v India	Dhaka	18 Jan 1998	ODI # 1279
Ijaz Ahmed	139*	84	10	9	165.47		v India	Lahore	2 Oct 1997	ODI # 1236
Inzamam-ul-Haq	137*	129	15	0	106.20		v New Zealand	Sharjah	20 Apr 1994	ODI # 911
Ijaz Ahmed	137	130	12	1	105.38		v England	Sharjah	7 Apr 1999	ODI # 1429
Salman Butt	136	124	14	1	109.67		v Bangladesh	Karachi	19 Apr 2008	ODI # 2703
Saleem Elahi	135	129	19	0	104.65		v South Africa	Port Elizabeth	11 Dec 2002	ODI # 1916
Aamer Sohail	134	146	13	0	91.78		v New Zealand	Sharjah	20 Apr 1994	ODI # 911
Ijaz Ahmed	132	103	9	4	128.15		v Zimbabwe	Rawalpindi	24 Nov 1998	ODI # 1377
Salman Butt	132	127	15	0	103.93		v Bangladesh	Lahore	13 Apr 2008	ODI # 2700
Saeed Anwar	131	141	12	3	92.90		v West Indies	Sharjah	1 Nov 1993	ODI # 842
Yousuf Youhana	129	131	8	3	98.47		v Sri Lanka	Sharjah	17 Apr 2002	ODI # 1832
Salman Butt	129	142	17	0	90.84		v India	Kanpur	11 Nov 2007	ODI # 2645
Basit Ali	127*	79	12	5	160.75		v West Indies	Sharjah	5 Nov 1993	ODI # 845
Yasir Hameed	127*	154	9	1	82.46		v New Zealand	Rawalpindi	7 Dec 2003	ODI # 2074
Shoaib Mohammad	126*	155	13	0	81.29		v New Zealand	Wellington	8 Mar 1989	ODI # 557
Saeed Anwar	126	99	8	6	127.27		v Sri Lanka	Adelaide	17 Feb 1990	ODI # 606
Yousuf Youhana	125	155	14	1	80.64		v New Zealand	Karachi	21 Apr 2002	ODI # 1833
Ijaz Ahmed	124*	87	9	4	142.52		v Bangladesh	Chittagong (MAA)	29 Oct 1988	ODI # 531
Kamran Akmal	124	125	12	0	99.20		v West Indies	Brisbane	19 Jan 2005	ODI # 2206
Zaheer Abbas	123	87	15	3	141.37		v Sri Lanka	Lahore	29 Mar 1982	ODI # 150
Inzamam-ul-Haq	123	121	9	4	101.65		v India	Lahore	21 Mar 2004	ODI # 2116
Inzamam-ul-Haq	122	102	12	2	119.60		v India	Karachi	13 Mar 2004	ODI # 2112
Inzamam-ul-Haq	121*	113	9	5	107.07		v India	Sharjah	26 Mar 2000	ODI # 1580
Javed Miandad	119*	77	6	5	154.54		v India	Lahore	31 Dec 1982	ODI # 164
Rameez Raja	119*	155	16	0	76.77		v New Zealand	Christchurch	18 Mar 1992	ODI # 747
Inzamam-ul-Haq	118*	124	10	2	95.16		v Sri Lanka	Sharjah	2 Nov 2001	ODI # 1771
Zaheer Abbas	118	86	10	4	137.20		v India	Multan	17 Dec 1982	ODI # 163
Shoaib Malik	118	110	10	2	107.27		v Hong Kong	Colombo (SSC)	18 Jul 2004	ODI # 2147
Mohsin Khan	117*	118	9	1	99.15		v India	Multan	17 Dec 1982	ODI # 163
Inzamam-ul-Haq	117	103	13	0	113.59		v Sri Lanka	Rawalpindi	19 Jan 1992	ODI # 710
Ijaz Ahmed	117	105	10	4	111.42		v Zimbabwe	Peshawar	3 Nov 1996	ODI # 1136
Ijaz Ahmed	117	112	8	1	104.46		v India	Dhaka	18 Jan 1998	ODI # 1279
Mohammad Yousuf	117	143	9	0	81.81		v South Africa	Lahore	20 Oct 2007	ODI # 2635
Younis Khan	117	110	9	2	106.36		v India	Mohali	8 Nov 2007	ODI # 2644
Javed Miandad	116*	114	3	3	101.75		v India	Sharjah	18 Apr 1986	ODI # 385
Rameez Raja	116*	148	8	0	78.37		v Sri Lanka	Hobart	15 Feb 1990	ODI # 605
Inzamam-ul-Haq	116*	138	9	1	84.05		v Zimbabwe	Harare	25 Feb 1995	ODI # 982
Inzamam-ul-Haq	116*	110	4	4	105.45		v Sri Lanka	Kimberley	7 Apr 1998	ODI # 1309
Yasir Hameed	116	132	14	2	87.87		v Bangladesh	Multan	9 Sep 2003	ODI # 2041
Javed Miandad	115*	103	12	2	111.65		v Sri Lanka	Hyderabad (Sind)	15 Jan 1992	ODI # 706
Saeed Anwar	115	120	13	1	95.83		v Sri Lanka	Nairobi (Gym)	4 Oct 1996	ODI # 1125
Shoaib Malik	115	142	12	0	80.98		v New Zealand	Lahore	27 Apr 2002	ODI # 1835
Ijaz Ahmed	114*	90	17	3	126.66		v South Africa	Durban	17 Dec 1994	ODI # 964
Rameez Raja	114	123	14	0	92.68		v New Zealand	Sialkot	6 Nov 1990	ODI # 638
Aamer Sohail	114	136	12	0	83.82		v Zimbabwe	Hobart	27 Feb 1992	ODI # 720

England to play Caribbean in $100m series

ANTIGUA: England will play five Twenty20 fixtures against a Caribbean all-star side for a record prize pot of $100 million and the first of these matches will be played on Nov. 1 at Antigua.

Each Twenty20 match will be played with $20 million winner-take-all purse.

The 11 active players on the winning side will walk away with $1 million each with a further two million going to squad players and coaching and management staff.

Seven million dollars will be shared between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), both of whom have been heavily involved in getting the series off the ground.

The first $20 million winner-take-all match will be held Nov. 1 in Antigua.

Pakistan suffer humiliating defeat from India

DHAKA: Pakistan tasted a humiliating defeat when India won their first One-day International of the tri-nation cricket series by a convincing margin of 140 runs here Tuesday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Chasing a difficult target of 331 runs, Pakistan could score only 190 runs off 35.4 overs.

From the very beginning, they were in deep trouble losing three early wickets for only 26 runs on board.

However, opener Kamran Akmal (38) and Misbah-ul-Haq (24) made some recovery by adding 55 valuable runs for the fourth wicket but both were dismissed within a space of 13 runs.

Then, Shahid Afridi (23) and captain Shoaib Malik made 44 runs but after Afridi wickets began falling with regular intervals.

However, Malik played a responsible innings and top-scored with 53 runs - the only fifty of Pakistan innings.

Earlier, India captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat first. His decision proved right as his batsmen hammered a mammoth total of 330 runs for eight wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir played in Twenty20 style to set an opening stand of 155 runs off 21.3 overs.

However, they could not break the India’s record of the highest opening partnership of 159 against Pakistan set by Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar at Dhaka in1997-98.

Sehwag smashed 89 off 76 balls with 13 fours and one six while Gambhir made 62 off the same number of balls with six boundaries.

Later, Yuvraj Singh hit a 54-ball 55 with three sixes and three fours.

Fast-medium bowler Umer Gul captured three wickets while spinners Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz claimed two wickets each and Suhail Tanvir took one wicket.

All-rounder Yusuf Pathan made his debut for India.

The next match will be played between India and hosts Bangladesh on Thursday while
Pakistan already beat Bangladesh by 70 runs in the opening match on Sunday.

Geo Super is showing the matches of the triangular series live from Mirpur, Dhaka.

PCB organizes umpires orientation session 2008

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board is holding a three-day orientation session for all PCB panel umpires in Faisalabad and Karachi to provide further briefings to them on modern umpiring aspects.

They will be guided about extensive use of code of conduct and latest amendments in the Laws.

According to a PCB press release, the first Orientation Session will be held at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad from 11th to 13th June starting at 10:00 hours to 16:30 hours daily.

A total number of 78 Umpires from Abbottabad, Azad Kashmir, Buner Charsadda, D.I. Khan, Faisalabad, Kasur, Kohat Lahore, Mardan Muridke, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Islamabad and Jhang shall participate.

Former umpires Mahboob Shah, Said Shah, Azhar Hussain and Khizar Hayat will act as faculty members.

The second Orientation Session will be held at National Stadium Karachi from 16th to 18th June at 10:00 hours to 16:30 hours daily.

A total number of 39 umpires from D.M. Jamali, Dadu, Hyderabad, Karachi, Loralai, Quetta, Lodhran, Shikarpur, Sibi, Thatta, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Multan and D. G. Khan shall participate in this orientation session.

Former umpires Mahboob Shah, Ferozuddin Butt, Said Shah and Khizar Hayat shall serve as faculty members.

Gambhir’s century helps India record easy 7-wkt win over BD

DHAKA: Opener Gautam Gambhir’s fine hundred helped India to register an easy seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh with 14.5 overs left in the last league match of the Tri-nation series here Thursday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.

Now, India with two wins and Pakistan with one will play the final on Saturday as Bangladesh, losing both their matches is out of the triangular series.

Gambhir remained not out on 107, his fifth century in One-day International cricket, and he faced 101 balls hitting 13 fours and one six.

His opening partner Virender Sehwag also playd a brilliant innings of 59 off just 32 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Both made 59 for the opening wicket partnership. Later, Gambir was involved in 56-run second wicket stand with Rohit Sharma and 75-run third wicket partnership with Yuvraj Singh.

Earlier, a solid knock of 89 from Raqibul Hasan guided Bangladesh to reach 222 in 49.5 overs.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and decided to bat but both his openers were dismissed for a mere 17 runs.

However, Ashraful and Raqibul took their team to recovery and added 76 valuable runs for the third wicket stand when Ashraful got out on 36.

Later, Raqibul found another good partner in Alok Kapali, who scored 24 off 27 balls. Both made 46 runs for the fifth wicket partnership.

Kapali’s contribution was 20 and later Mahmudullah scored 24. Mashrafe Mortaza hit a 12-ball 13 and struck the only six of the innings.

From India, RP Singh captured three wickets for 46 while Irfan Pathan claimed two for 48. His brother Yousuf Pathan, Praveen Kumar and Pyush Chawla got one wicket each.

India made one change from the squad that beat Pakistan by 140 runs in their first match of the tournament on Tuesday, with pace bowler RP Singh replacing Ishant Sharma.

Bangladesh also made one change from the team which was defeated by Pakistan by 70 runs in the opening match of the tournament on Sunday, with pace bowler Farhad Reza replacing Shahadat Hossain.

Mohammad Asif: Career Highlights

Mumbai: Mohammad Asif has done it again. The Pakistan fast bowler has been arrested by Dubai police after he was caught for allegedly carrying opium. The arrest is just the latest controversy to hit Pakistan cricket over the last two years.

Here are brief highlights from his topsy-turvy career.

2004-05: Test debut vs Australia at Sydney

2005-06: Picked up 7 wickets against India at Karachi to announce his arrival in Test cricket

2006-07: Tests positive for steroids alongwith Shoaib Akhtar, banned for two years by PCB ahead of Champions Trophy; Appellate panel lifted the ban later

2006-07: Drops out of World Cup squad because of elbow injury, but it was suspected to be on fears that steroids were still in his body

2007: Appointed vice-captain of Pakistan team

2007-08: Shoaib Akhtar hits Asif with bat before the World T20 championship.; Akhtar is banned by PCB

2007-08: Asif misses out on a lot of action owing to elbow injury

2007-08: Returns from injury against Bangladesh

2007-08: Turns out for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League

June 3: Arrested in Dubai for allegedly possessing opium

Asif case sent to Dubai court

Karachi: Its bad news for detained Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif as his case is now being sent to the Dubai court, sources said on Monday.

"Asif's case is now sent to court and the public prosecutor will produce evidence as a defendant in the case. If the court decides to punish Asif, only the ruler of Dubai is authorised to give impunity, otherwise Asif will have to serve the punishment," sources told cricketnirvana.com.

"The court can also dismiss the case and deport Asif on Tuesday but the Pakistan fast bowler would need huge luck for that to come about."

Earlier the chief prosecutor in the case, Mohammad Ali Rustam has ruled out any chance of a decision on Monday.

"We are assessing the case and I don't see any chance of a decision on the case on Monday. It may take one or two more days to get a verdict. The case is now in the hands of attorney general and we have passed all the information to him," Rustam said in a television interview.

The 25-year-old paceman is in detention since June 1. He was returning home from India after participating in the IPL. Asif was held up after he was found to have carrying an illegal drug in his wallet.

The case was referred to the Attorney General on Sunday after the prosecution completed the inquiry. Asif also appeared before the court on Sunday, which was adjourned soon after the recommendations of the public prosecutor were heard.

Pakistan Cricket Board director Human Resources Nadeem Akram, who is in Dubai for a week now to assist Asif, showed his disappointment over the delay. "WE were expecting a decision on Monday. Now we will have to wait. It is remain to be seen whether the attorney general frame charges against Asif or release him, we hope for the best," Akram told cricketnirvana.com from Dubai.

Pakistan Cricket Board, who is fighting for Asif's release, has also voiced concern. "We have been waiting for the decision. Once a decision is reached then only we will decide what course of action is to be taken against Asif," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said.

"We are signatory to the WADA rules and regulations so we have to look at the case through those reules and regulations. If anything comes out against Asif, then we too will have to take the matter under WADA rules," said Ashraf.

God forbid, if that comes about, Asif's career is under dark clouds.

Women's Asia Cup: Ind thrash Pak in last league tie

Three-time champions India geared up for Sunday's final against Sri Lanka with a resounding 206-run victory over Pakistan in their last league encounter of the Women's Asia Cup in Dambulla on Friday.

Meanwhile, in another match India's opponent in the final, Sri Lanka, beat Bangladesh by nine wickets in Kurunegala.

Sunday's final between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Kurunegala with India bidding to win the tournament for the fourth successive time.

Electing to bat first, India piled 283/3 after openers Jaya Sharma and Karuna Jain provided their team a 114-run start in 20 overs. The partnership ended when Karuna was run-out after scoring 37 that included six boundaries. Sharma followed Jain 26 runs later after scoring 74, her 13th ODI half-century. She faced 91 balls and hit 12 fours.

Anagha Deshpande, making her debut, contributed 38 and featured in a 53-run third wicket stand with captain Mithali Raj in 10 overs, who was later involved in a 90-run unbroken fourth wicket partnership with Rumeli Dhar.

Raj returned unbeaten on 62, her 22nd career half-century, while Dhar chipped in with an unbeaten 51 which was her fifth half-century. Raj faced 58 balls and hit five fours while Dhar's 45-ball knock included six fours and a six.

Pakistan, in turn, was rocked by debutante fast bowler Snehal Pradhan and Jhulan Goswami and slumped to 45/5 in 20 overs. Left-arm spinner Neetu David then joined the party for India and picked up 3/9 as Pakistan was bowled out for 76 in 33.3 overs.

Pradhsn returned figures of 10-1-21-3 while Goswami bagged 2-19.

In Kurunegala, Dedunu Silva and Shashikala Siriwardene added 81 runs for the unbroken second wicket as Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by nine wickets. Silva scored 66 off 82 balls with 12 fours while Siriwardene followed up her 2-28 with 23 that came off 34 balls and included two fours.

PCB likely to change date of Champions Trophy opener

Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to be forced to change the date of the opening match of the Champions Trophy from a date strikingly remembered for terrorists' attack: 9/11.

West Indies are scheduled to meet Pakistan on that day in Lahore to kick off the tournament to be held from September 11-28.
It is reliably learnt that considering the significance of the date -- when alleged Al-Qaeda hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the World Trade Centre in New York City -- it was dangerous to start to the eight-nation high-profile tournament on the seventh anniversary of a sad event.

Although there were no known threats from any quarters, the PCB has made up its mind to delay the event by one day and the request for this delay will be put before the ICC board which meets in Dubai later this month.

"The PCB was advised not to start the event on 9/11 and they have realised the seriousness of the matter," said a source. When asked about the imminent one day delay, the PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi played down the matter. "I have no idea about this. I don't know from where such things come. We have not made any request to the ICC on that matter," denied Naghmi.

The inaugural Twenty20 also started on 9/11 but for a country like South Africa, which has no part to play in the war against terror, it wasn't a problem. But Pakistan, itself embroiled by fundamentalists and revival of Taliban across the border in Afghanistan, the matter is of a concern.

Foreign teams have shown reluctance over touring Pakistan since the 9/11 attacks and the ensuing war in Afghanistan. New Zealand are due to tour Pakistan in August for a pre-CT one-day series but some of their senior players have already shown reluctance over touring. Australia postponed their March-April tour of Pakistan over security fears and it is yet to be seen how they respond to security arrangements for the Champions Trophy.

The ICC have named Sri Lanka as possible replacement in case Pakistan fails to host the biennial event.

Twenty20 can 'dominate' world sport: Stanford

London: Billionaire businessman Allen Stanford said Twenty20 cricket could replace football as the world's leading team sport after announcing a series of 20 million dollar matches between England and his Caribbean Super Stars side.

"With the right financial support behind it, the right vision, it can be the dominant team sport in the world," Stanford told a news conference at Lord's here Wednesday.

"I think Twenty20 combines almost all the elements of all sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, it even has track and field in it."

The first of five annual floodlit Twenty20 matches between Stanford's Super Stars and England will take place at his own ground in Antigua on November1.

Players on the winning side will earn one million dollars each - a huge sum by cricket standards. However, members of the losing team will not get anything.

Of the remaining nine million dollars being put up by Stanford, a million will be divided among the rest of the winning squad and a further million will go to the victorious coaching team.

The other seven million will be shared between the cash-strapped West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Over the course of five years, a player on the winning side in all the games could earn as five million dollars while both boards are guaranteed a minimum of 17.5 million dollars each.

"The winner goes home happy, the loser goes home unhappy," Stanford, who arrived at Lord's in his own private helicopter, said.

These matches are effectively exhibition games as England are not playing the West Indies although ECB chief executive Davi Collier said they were "unofficial but authorised" by the International Cricket Council.

Stanford, a Texan who became a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, has already invested heavily in a domestic Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies which now features his trademark all-black bats.

He denied he was simply giving money away. "I'm investing in cricket's future in the West Indies. We're in a bit of a trough and I want to do everything I can to bring it back up."

Former West Indies captain Vivian Richards, one of Stanford's advisors, added he was sure the matches would be competitive.

"We believe we have the product to do it justice. We wouldn't like you guys to come to the Caribbean and take it (the money) back to England."

Twenty20 has grown rapidly in global popularity since being launched as a professional sport at county level in England six years ago and spawned it own world championship, won by India in South Africa last year.

In India, the first edition of a new, lucrative Twenty20 tournament was recently concluded but Stanford said he believed English officials were best-placed to help him realise his Twenty20 vision.

"The ECB have the best organisation and the best management to drive cricket into the 21st century."

Meanwhile ECB charman Giles Clarke denied his organisation's involement was a way of placating England cricketers, who might otherwise earn big money in matches beyond the board's control. "We are not trying to appease them," he said.

"It gives them a chance to perform under pressure and to make money beyond the dreams of some of their predecessors," Clarke added as he addressed an audience including West Indies cricket greats Everton Weekes, Garfield Sobers, and Curtly Ambrose.

England coach Peter Moores denied the money on offer would damage squad morale but admitted: "It will be a different set of pressures for all the players. It's ruthless, as it should be. If you perform, you earn money."

WICB president Julian Hunte said the cash was vital for Caribbean cricket.

"We see this as part of the resurgence of West Indies cricket. We need this investment to underpin our own strategic plan."

Only last weekend plans were announced for a tournament later this year featuring the best eight Twenty20 sides from England, Australia, India and South Africa and this has led to fears regarding the future of five-day Tests.

"I find Test cricket boring," said Stanford. "But I'm not a purist. Test cricket is the foundation, Twenty20 is the future," added Stanford whose news conference ended with the unveiling of a box containing 20 million dollars.

And former England all-rounder Ian Botham, also at Lord's, said: "You still need Test cricket to get your players for Twenty20.

"No-one quibbles about golfers or footballers earning big money, so why shouldn't cricketers?"

Stanford is also understood to have held talks with the ECB regarding the staging of an annual four-nation Twenty20 tournament at Lord's although, as yet, no details have been made public.

PCB chief blasts Pakistan team

Karachi: There is serious trouble brewing for skipper Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson following Pakistan team’s biggest-ever defeat against India. The 140-run defeat on Tuesday left Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman Dr Naseem Ashraf fuming. Under tremendous pressure from the Senate on the team’s performance and cricket affairs, the PCB chief has sent a strong-worded email to the Pakistan cricket team.

The email, a copy of which is with cricketnirvana.com, blasts the team’s abject surrender to arch-rivals India.

“Last night’s performance against India in which we lost by over 100 runs was embarrassing. It is not a question of losing a match but our overall performance and the lack of resolve and commitment bothered me the most,” PCB chairman Naseem Ashraf wrote in the email to manager Talat Ali, also copied to coach Geoff Lawson and captain Shoaib Malik.

“I am writing this to you in your capacity as chairman of the touring selection committee (Talat Ali) with copies to Geoff Lawson and Malik. Please discuss these points today and give us your considered response within the next 24 hours so that timely action can be taken before the next match against India on the 14th which will be the final.”

The main bone of contention has been over the non-inclusion of a regular spinner in the squad.

Excerpts of the letter:

1. Selection of the playing eleven for this match against India: The previous game against Bangladesh had clearly highlighted the characteristics of the track in Dhaka that the spinners were going to play a crucial role. The team selected for the India game had four fast bowlers. Also, you clearly told me that Malik was 100 per cent fit and therefore was the second spinner in the side. What happened to that? Why did Malik not bowl?

Malik, with over 100 ODI wickets, did not come on to bowl. The reason: he was reported for illegal action by the same match referee Jeff Crowe in 2005-06.

Ashraf also criticized the batting slump and the inability to restore the innings once it was rocked by the triple strike from Praveen Kumar.

2. After the Indian opening pair started to hit us all over the park in the first 3 to 4 overs, it was fairly obvious that something needed to be done to break their momentum. We dropped some catches in the beginning as well but, watching from here, one felt that we were paralysed in the field. Nobody suggested to the captain that he must have a mini-conference with the vice-captain and other players — junior or senior — and take corrective action. Even the commentators were talking as to the possibility of changing the bowling and bringing in Shahid Afridi at an early stage.”

3. Even if that was not the strategy, at least the fast bowlers should have been advised not to over extend themselves (more than 22 wides and a total of 38 extras) on a track like this. Rather, they should have been instructed to bowl strictly to a line and length and to contain especially when the batsmen were in such full cry. It seemed as if we were just continuing with tactics that were clearly not working! We need to be more proactive on the field!”

4. Wicket keeping was pathetic, especially after Kamran Akmal dropped the catch and pretended that he had held on to it. This is unsporting behaviour but perhaps one has to give him the benefit of the doubt as he may not have realised that the ball had slipped out from his hand, which was picked up by the cameras. I do not want such behaviour from any Pakistani player. Please warn everyone! We ought to be looking at playing another ‘keeper'.

5. Except for a few on the field, the body language was not competitive. We were smiling and joking as if we were some junior team which was happy just to be given the privilege of playing a top team. This has to stop.

6. As I said earlier, the fast bowlers were just trying too hard on a dead track, resulting in wayward line and length. If you look at Sehwag run map, he almost had 50 runs on the leg side which is something that he has never done in the past.

7. The positives were that Afridi bowled very well and Malik got his 50 but then Afridi threw his wicket away in a most irresponsible manner.

8. At least our strategy after losing early wickets should have been to bat out the 50 overs. No one applied themselves to build partnerships,” the chairman argued.

“I can go on with a lot of other match details and analysis but this should be enough.”

Giving his suggestions for the expected final on Saturday, the chairman wrote:

a) The touring selection committee needs to have a meeting and decide regarding the playing 11 i.e. how many spinners and who?

b) Malik must undergo a complete fitness test with regards to his bowling tomorrow so as to determine clearly whether he can bowl full 10 overs.

c) If the touring committee decides that they want to ask for another spinner from Pakistan, you can decide and let us know immediately so we can arrange for the player to join the team. It could either be a left-arm spinner or another right-arm spinner.

d) The bowlers should work extra hard for the next two days and correct their no-balls and wides. This is simply unacceptable and the coach must address this.

“I intend to reach Dhaka on Saturday, Inshallah, at noon time and would like to have a meeting first with you, the captain, the coach and the vice-captain immediately, and then later in the evening a meeting with the full team. Please get back to us by calling me with your decision regarding the spinner, etc.

The concluding remarks, though, were pacifying.

“I have full confidence that we can beat India on the 14th if we get our act together, Inshallah. May God be with you all.”

Clearly the pressure is on Malik and Lawson to get their act together but a Bangladesh win on Thursday would mean that Pakistan will not get that chance to rectify the faults pointed out by their boss.

West Indies 255-4 in Antigua Test

ST. JOHN'S: Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit half centuries as West Indies and a soggy outfield frustrated Australia on a truncated day three Sunday of the second cricket test.

After the first two sessions were lost due to unfit conditions because of poor drainage at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, West Indies, overnight 125 for three, closed on 255 for four.

Sarwan scored a pleasant 65 while Chanderpaul compiled a typically unfussy, unbeaten 55.

Dwayne Bravo chipped in with 29 not out as West Indies replied strongly to Australia's formidable first innings of 479 for seven declared.

When play finally began after tea, Sarwan and Chanderpaul pushed their fourth-wicket stand to 77 before MacGill struck.

Sarwan passed his 50 off 108 balls but failed to push on. He prodded to a big leg break and edged to slip. Michael Clarke, Australia's hero on Saturday with a century and two wickets, held a brilliant one-handed catch to his right.

Sarwan hit four fours and a six off 145 balls in three and quarter hours. Chanderpaul picked up his half century just before the close and Bravo proved another able ally.

The pair added 73 unbroken for the fifth wicket. Left-hander Chanderpaul faced 128 balls and struck six fours. Bravo was less assured but still swatted two sixes off MacGill full tosses and one four off 59 balls.

Cricketer Asif arrested in Dubai on contraband item

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif has been arrested at Dubai airport on charges of possessing illegal drugs, cricket officials said Tuesday. Asif was seized while returning home from India after featuring in Indian Premier League, which ended on Sunday. "Yes, we can confirm about Asif's arrest. He was stopped at Dubai airport on charges of carrying opium and was supposed to be brought before the magistrate on Tuesday," the official said. The sources said that Muhammad Asif in police custody had admitted of possessing opium.

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif has been arrested at Dubai airport on charges of possessing illegal drugs, cricket officials said Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Asif was seized while returning home from India after featuring in a domestic event that ended on Sunday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials said.

"Yes, we can confirm about Asif's arrest. He was stopped at Dubai airport on charges of carrying opium and was supposed to be brought before the magistrate on Tuesday," the official said.

PCB human resources director Nadeem Akram said he was in Dubai and has also hired a lawyer to assist Asif.

"I am in Dubai as part of the PCB's efforts to get Asif cleared. As far as we know a contraband item was in his wallet which he himself did not know and it's in a very small quantity," Akram told AFP by telephone.

"He was detained at the airport and was interrogated. As far as we know no first incident report has been lodged as yet but police have conducted several tests on Asif including a urine test. A lawyer has also been hired," he said.

"We have not been officially told about the nature of the substance and quantity. There have been lots of speculations."

PCB spokesman Shafqat Naghmi told a news conference in the eastern city of Lahore that Asif said the substance involved was medicine.

"The lawyer said Asif is in good spirits and he is looking forward to returning home. It is all based on some assumptions -- he said he had some medicine and they don't know about it," Naghmi said.

"The UAE (United Arab Emirates) has strict procedures -- they want to probe the matter to determine what the substance is. We are hopeful the entire issue is due to some misunderstanding."

The arrest is just the latest controversy to hit Pakistan's troubled cricket team over the past two years.

Asif was banned for one year after he tested positive for the steroid nandrolone in October 2006. Fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar was banned for two years on the same charge.

The bans were however lifted on appeal two months later. Akhtar meanwhile is appealing a lifetime ban imposed in April for repeated disciplinary problems.

Asif was named on Monday as one of five pacemen in a 16-man squad to take part in next week's one-day tri-series in Bangladesh.

He has had recent problems with injury, undergoing an operation in Australia in December after an elbow problem recurred during the one-day series against South Africa two months earlier.

He missed Pakistan's tour of India late last year before being ruled out of the five-match home series against Zimbabwe.